Allen Crishon is a young, sensitive, graduate student who becomes obsessively attracted to a mysterious woman, Pearl, whom he accidentally discovers is physically abusing her daughter. Because of the dating relationship and his emotional attachment to Pearl, he decides against going to the police, choosing to bear the guilt of not telling the authorities rather than to risk losing her.
However, his friend Peter hears about the abuse and poses as Pearl's therapy client in order to investigate. When she is eventually arrested, her communal acquaintances begin stalking Allen as the primary target-and he finds himself on the run. This is only the beginning of a fast-paced psychological tale involving intrigue, romance, unusual and symbolic subplots, and full-of life characters that are both predictable and unpredictable.
Total Entrapment is also a study of the younger generation: their choices and risks, their freedoms and barriers.
